[Intl-tobacco] Australia: New push for pub smoking ban

[Robert Weissman]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,7328524,00.html

The Australian
New push for pub smoking ban
 By Lilnda Silmalis
 21sep03

 THE NSW Government is to face an aggressive campaign to ban smoking in
pubs and clubs, amid new compelling
 evidence that "smoke-free" areas are ineffective.

 The yet-to-be-published Australian research compared smoke levels in
smoking and designated non-smoking areas
 in 20 Sydney clubs.

 The study found smoke particle levels in separated areas were higher
than in smoking areas in three venues.

 Smoke levels in the smoke-free areas of other clubs were, on average,
half that in areas where smoking was
 allowed.

 The research was undertaken by five Australian health professionals
over several months, testing on Fridays.

 Researchers measured levels of nicotine, carbon monoxide and suspended par=
ticles.

 Venues tested included rugby league, RSL, bowling and ethnic clubs.

 Non-smoking areas ranged from separate rooms to cordoned-off areas in a
bar.

 Report co-author Professor Bernard Stewart, from the South Eastern Area
Health Service (SEAHS) public health
 unit, said the findings were unexpected.

 "One might reasonably expect you are protected in a non-smoking area
but our research shows this is not the
 case," he said.

 "That was a shock =96 we did not expect that. In three specific
instances, smoke contaminants in non-smoking areas
 were up to 20 per cent higher than in smoking areas," he said.

 Professor Stewart said he understood the study is the first of its kind
in the world.

 The research has been submitted for publication to the international
journal Tobacco Control.

 New regulations banning smoking near the bar in NSW pubs and clubs came
into effect in July, but the State
 Government has refused to commit to making venues completely
smoke-free. Cancer Council NSW will soon launch
 an advertising campaign to force the Government into adopting total
smoking bans.

 Cancer Council NSW chief executive officer Dr Andrew Penman said NSW
was behind the rest of the world in
 recognising the health effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).

 Bans are now in place in Victoria, five US states and Ireland, while
Norway and New Zealand are about to become
 smoke-free, Dr Penman said.

 "No credible source says ventilation will reduce the risk to acceptable
levels," he said.

 Dr Penman said research in Finland showed passive smoking killed up to
252 people in one year.

 Working at a St Leonards' hotel, Bonnie MacTavish, 21, said smoking
should be banned in bars.

 "It does bother me. You come home after a night at work and your eyes
are stinging and your throat is sore," Ms
 MacTavish said.